Social media has been buzzing with a heartwarming video showcasing the rescue of a man and his dog from devastating floods in Connecticut, which tragically resulted in at least two fatalities on Sunday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood emergency warning for several areas, including Fairfield and Hartford counties, as Connecticut experienced nearly 10 inches of rain from what is being described as a “1,000-year” rain event. In response to the emergency, Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency, with reports indicating over 100 people needing evacuation.
One motorist was caught off guard as floodwaters quickly engulfed his vehicle in Southbury. A heroic bystander, identified as Tania Carver, captured the moment on video, showing a man wading through the deep waters to help both the motorist, who is an amputee, and his pet. In the footage, the rescuer assists the driver out of the car while the man holds his prosthetic leg.
“A driver was stranded in floodwaters as heavy rain hit Southbury, Connecticut,” read the text overlay in the video. “A Good Samaritan rescued the driver, then returned for the dog and prosthetic leg. Everyone was safe.”
The video highlights the rescuer opening the back door to find the dog in the flooded rear seat. Carver reported that both the man and his dog made it safely to dry ground, where he was able to put his prosthetic leg on and stand.
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While this storm is not connected to Hurricane Ernesto, a Category 1 storm currently in the Atlantic, it has brought heavy rain to New York and New Jersey as well. Despite no direct relationship, the hurricane is contributing to dangerous rip currents along the Northeast coast.
As of Monday, flood warnings remained in effect for parts of the East Coast, particularly Delaware and New Jersey. Meteorologists caution that additional moisture could exacerbate current flooding conditions, given the already saturated ground, but anticipate a return to dry weather by Tuesday lasting through the weekend.